Compare towns
Sutton vs Reading vs Wilbraham vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sutton | Reading | Wilbraham | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,452Lowest |
25,612Highest |
14,572 |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763 13% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,658 11% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Wilbraham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Reading | Hampden-Wilbraham | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | Reading Memorial High | Minnechaug Regional High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
12.1 |
14.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.